Improvement in steam-boilers, heaters, and condenser tube-joints



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lmpro-vementlin Steam Boiler7l Heater, and Conductor Tubeloins.

No. 122,606. Pa-tentedjamgnsn.

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JOSEPH HARRISON, JR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

A IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-BOILERS. HEATERS, AND CONDENSER TUBE-JOINTS.

VSpecification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,606, dated January9, 1872.

Specification describing an Improvement in Steam-Generators, Heaters,and Condensers, invented by JOSEPH HARRISON, Jr., of Philadelphia,Pennsylvania.

My invention relates to steam-generators or boilers of the classgenerally known as sectional, distinguished from those in which theseveral parts are permanently united together, sectional boilers beingbuilt of pieces, one or more of which can be readily removed andreplaced and my invention consists of lap-welded tubes connectedtogether at oneor more points between their opposite ends by flatteningeach tube to a perforated ferrule or thimble, interposin grings betweenthe iattenedportions of the tubes, and connecting the whole trigether bybolts, all as `fully described herea ter.

Figure lis a side view, partly in section, of portions of two tubes ofasteamgenerator, heatl er, or condenser; Fig. 2, a sectional plan on theline l 2, Fig. l; Fig. 3, a vertical section on the line 3 4, Fig. l;Fig. 4, a vertical section on the line 5 6, Fig. l, Fig. 5, a portion ofFig. 3 detached 5 Fig. 6 a sectional view, illustrating a moditicationof my invention.

A and A are portions of two ordinary lapwelded tubes, which areconnected together at the ends, as well as at any desired intermediatepoints, in the following manner: In connecting the tubes together at anypoint excepting at the ends I adopt the plan best observed in Figs. l,3, and 5, whereB represents a metal ferrule or thimble shorter than thediameter of the tubes, and having at each end an annular rib, a., and inthe middle two holes, b b, directly opposite to each other. In each tubeAl I bore two holes opposite to each other, these holes being arrangedto receive the annu-` lar ribs a a of the thimble, as shown in Figs. land 3, and the tube being flattened until its opposite iiat sides bearon the shoulders x m made on the thimble by reducing the same indiameter so as to form the said annular ribs. A ring, D, is interposedbetween the ilattened portions of two adjoining tubes in such positionas to be concentric with the thimble, as shown in Figs. l and 3, thethickness of the ring depending upon the desired distance apart ofthetubes, the cylindrical portions of the latter being, inthe presentinstance, in contact with each other. v It will be observed that anannular lip is formed on each edge of the ring, this lip being of such adiameter as to fit snugly in the thimble, while the shoulder formed outhe ring by the lip bears on the flattened portion ofthe tube and bindsthe same to the shoulder of the thimble. A like annular lip is formed onthe cap pieces E E, which close the outer openings of the outer tubes ofa series, and a bolt, F, passing through both cap pieces, tubes, thimble, and rings, serves to bind the whole together, while a free passageis ailorded through the thimble for the water or steam to passlongitudinally from end to end of the tubes, or from one tube toanother, throughout the series. Into the end of each tube I introduce ahollow cast-iron plug, which is flat on opposite sides; and to thisplugI adapt the tube, through the iiattened portions of which are boredholes coinciding with holes y in the plug. A ring, D', and cap -pieces EE are fitted to the lattened ends ofthe tubes, and the whole boundtogether by means of a bolt in the manner adoptedof connecting the tubestogether at any points between their ends. It will be seen that thehollow plugs and their openings permit the water or steam to pass freelyfrom one tube to the other at the ends of the saine. The hollow plug maybe secured to-the end of the tube by rivets p and g, as shown in Figs. land 2; and screws m m may be introduced into the closed ends of thehollow plug, so that on their withdrawal holes may be presented for theinsertion of a suitable instrument wherewith to cleanse the interior ofthe tubes.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a modification of the tubular coupling forconnecting the flattened portions of the tubes together. In this casethe thilnble D is beveled inward at the opposite edges and the edges ofthe ring B beveled outward, and the metal at the edges of the holes inthe attened portions ofthe tube has a corresponding bevel, and isconfined in the manner clearly illustrated in the drawing.

rEhe greatest objection to steam-generators composed of a series ofwrought-iron detachable tubes of sectional boilers is the liability ofthe water to be forced from those tubes which are nearest to the fireand which are consequently exposed to the rapid deteriorating effeetofthe heat. This absence of water is attributable to the limited numberof channels for circulation, the tubes in boilers of the sectional classbeing, for the most part, connected together at the opposite ends only.

By the adoption of my improvement the tubes may be connected together atany nuniber of points between their opposite ends, and thus numerouschannels maybe thereby afforded for the free Circulation of the Waterand steam.

Another advantage of my mode of connecting the bodies of lap-Weldedtubes together is the facility which it a'ords of making steamgeneratorsor heaters of' a variety of forms. For instance, Walls of tubing mayinclose a tireplaee, which may be roofed with tubes, the whole beingconnected together at so many points that the circulation of Water andsteam must be free throughout; or a generator may be made of a series oflongitudinal tubes alternating with transverse tubes, the structurebeing built of any desired dimensions, and forming a net-work of tubingconnected together at so many points that a free circulatian of Waterand steam through the entire system of tubes is insured.

Another advantage of my invention is thatby flattening the tubes Wherethey are secured together by tubular connections the bodies of the tubescan, when desired, be brought into contact with each other. Forinstance, they may be arranged to form the Walls of a replace, theopenings where the joints occur be ing iilled with fine clay.

I claim as my invention- Lap-welded tubes connected together et one ormore points between their opposite ends by flattening each tube to aperforated ferrule or thimble, interposing rings between the flat tenedportions of the tubes, and conneetin g the Whole together by bolts, allsubstantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiieation in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOSEPH HARRISON, J R.

Witnesses:

WM. A. STEEL, HARRY SMITH. (148)

